justintime
Well-known member
Today would make a chapter in my book if I ever write one ( which I highly doubt!!). I have just got home from delivering a bull. I have driven almost 700 miles since early this morning, and travelled into a part of Manitoba that I have never had the opportunity to see before. ... amazing country!! Maybe some of the best agricultural and scenic country I have ever seen! But that is not what this chapter will be about. Let me start at the beginning.
About 3 weeks before our bull sale last April, I received a phone call from a lady who wanted to know if I had any white Shorthorn bulls. I told her I had 3 of my own, and there were 6 in total in our bull test. I told her that I would send her a sale catalog, to which she said" That really won't do me any good, as I do not have a driver's license to get to the sale. I told her that if she wanted me to bid for her, I would be glad to do it, and I would even deliver the bull to her when she needed it. She said she did not want to turn the bull out until mid August, as she was never going to calve when there was snow on the ground again. ( I thought to myself that turning the bull out in mid August should eliminate that problem!)
I phoned Bernice after our bull sale and told her that I had not purchased a bull as all the white bulls sold for more than the $2500 bid she had given me. She was most disappointed as she had her heart set on a white Shorthorn bull. The only other white bull I had on the place was a 4 year old that I have been using on my heifers. This was about the last year I was able to use him, as I am keeping daughters in the herd. I asked Bernice if she would be interested in a 4 year old bull and she said she would take him if he was quiet. We made a deal, in which I was to use him until August, then I was to deliver the bull.
That brings us up to today. I had phoned Bernice and got directions to her farm. Sounded simple enough... come down the highway until you see 4 large steel bins , then 7 miles north. Stop when you see a wooden gate. The directions sounded better than some I have received over the years.
I left very early this morning as it was 340 miles from here. As I got close to where she was supposed to live, I watched for steel bins.... but I didn't see any. Finally, I saw one steel bin, so I turned north.
I was impressed with farm yards that I passed, they were modern, very neat, yards mowed, very affluent looking. A few had swimming pools and some would be considered mansions in some other places. It was obvious that this country had been very good to the people who settled here. The crops were amazing and it was very beautiful, with gently rolling land with the blackest dirt I have ever seen. It was far enough north that there were 80-90 ft Pine trees throughout the fields. After driving 7 miles, I came to a dead end in the road, but there was a very beautiful farm situated there. I had to pull into the yard to turn around. A couple were having their coffee beside a swimming pool and they came over when I pulled in their yard. I told them that I thought I was lost and told them I was looking for Bernice's place. They told me I was close, I was 1 mile to far east. Then the man said, " have you ever been to her place before?" I said no, and related the story complete with turning at the grain bins. He replied that I would be stepping back in time a little when I got to her place. I asked " how much back in time" and he responded " back to the 40s or earlier ". He also told me that the grain bins Bernice had told me about had been moved to another location at least 4 years ago. We had a brief visit and the man asked if he could look at the bull in the trailer. I said sure. He looked in and said that he really liked him and said that Bernice would really look after him well. He also said he would be interested in buying bulls like that if I had some next spring, so I got his mailing address and promised I would send him a sale catalog next spring.( this is the best part of this story! I consider people with swimming pools by their homes in the same category as people who wear alligator shoes, especially when they are interested in buying cattle!!)
Here is where this long story gets really interesting ( or possibly scary) PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO EATING ....
I got to Bernice's place, and it was truly a dump. She was waiting at the wooden gate for me and said that she had been out there for a few hours waiting for me ( which explains why she did not answer her phone when I tried to phone her several times). The first thing I noticed were a bunch of goats.. everywhere. I backed up to a little pen and unloaded the bull.( the pen was probably built in the 40s as well) She said he was the best bull she had ever saw( I like customers like her!). She said " I better give you some more money as he is worth more than you asked for him". I said no, we made a deal, and that is just fine. Then she told me to come to her trailer, and she would pay me for the bull.
The trailer was vintage 1950, or older, and had two small, very ,very old, log buildings added on to it. As we went to enter the door, I was almost bowled over by at least 15 goats that went rushing by, and into the trailer when she opened the door. The stench hit me at that point and I almost went over backwards. Bernice was a tiny, bent over woman who at 76 years old, still moved pretty good.She may have made 4'6 " in her bent over condition. She could hardly open the door to get in, but squeezed in. I, being MUCH bigger had to really heave on the door and I took one step in. I have never witnessed anything like it in my life. The ammonia smell burnt my eyes and nostrils. The manure and urine from the goats and who knows what else, was at least an inch deep on the floor of the trailer.It may have been much deeper... I could not tell! I could see that are some point she had spread some straw on the floor but it was a mucky mess and when I stepped in one step, the urine and manure ozzed up on my shoes past my soles. Bernice asked me if I could fill out the cheque, so I did. She said she had not gone to school as her father did not believe that girls needed education. She told me that she got married at 15 and her husband had taught her to read and sign her name. The cheque I filled out was # 7 and she said that she had only used a few cheques in her lifetime.
I have no idea how anyone could live in the smell and filth. The only appliances were a stove and fridge which were completely rust colored as the ammonia had completely stripped the enamel off them.The one window in the kitchen looked like it was tinted brown, but I knew it was the affects of the ammonia on it. As I wrote the cheque out a goat hopped up on a small table and from there onto the stove and immediately laid down there. Bernice said that she really loved all her animals and the goats slept on her bed with her. A mouse ran across the top of the kitchen table as I wrote the cheque. I am not afraid of mice, but when it ran over my hand I jumped. Bernice chuckled and said, " I did not think it would do that. I play with it when I am having my tea, but I did not think it would come up to a stranger".
I have always prized myself for having cast iron guts, and can only remember throwing up three times in my life, from sickness or self inflicted sickness, but I was very close to heaving a fourth time, by the time I had written the cheque out. There was one picture on the wall, of a very handsome young man in a college graduation gown. She said " that is my son" I asked, " what does he do?" to which she answered " he is a college professor in the states". I then asked " where in the states?" to which she answered" Hartford, Conn. I think that is way down east". I assured her it was quite a ways down east. I asked her if she saw him very often and she said that she had not seen him since her husband died 11 years ago. She told me that he usually calls at Christmas time, and sometimes sends her a little money.
I got back in my truck and left... kinda in total shock. Before I had driven a mile I had to stop. I got out and walked through the wet grass in the ditch trying to get the smell off my shoes. I did this three times within 10 miles. My eyes were still burning and I eventually took my shoes off and threw them in the box of my truck. I had a pair of old boots under my back seat, so I wore them home. 61/2 hours later I arrived home. I could still smell the stench and my nose still felt like it was burning. I took a look at my shoes in the box of the truck and immediately walked over to the burn barrel and tossed them in. The bull I delivered is going to buy me a new pair. On the way home, I took out my address book and phoned the farm where I had got directions from. I told the lady what I had encountered, and she said that they had known it might be bad but the had no idea it was that bad. I asked her if someone should phone the public health authorities and she said that she would do so, first thing Tuesday morning ( Monday is a holiday here in Canada.. well for city people it is anyways!) I told the lady to let me know what happens as I would come and get the bull if the authorities make her leave her place. The lady told me to cash the cheque, as it definitely would be good.
I have now showered and I used lots of soap, but I still can smell the horrid stench. I am beginning to wonder if I might be suffering from some kind of post traumatic stress. I think I will try another shower... and maybe burn my clothes as well. Wow, I hope I can sleep tonight! Sorry for the long story.... I did not know how to make it any shorter. Just wish I could add the smell so you could see for yourself!
Man, I love the cattle business! You just never know what you will encounter!
About 3 weeks before our bull sale last April, I received a phone call from a lady who wanted to know if I had any white Shorthorn bulls. I told her I had 3 of my own, and there were 6 in total in our bull test. I told her that I would send her a sale catalog, to which she said" That really won't do me any good, as I do not have a driver's license to get to the sale. I told her that if she wanted me to bid for her, I would be glad to do it, and I would even deliver the bull to her when she needed it. She said she did not want to turn the bull out until mid August, as she was never going to calve when there was snow on the ground again. ( I thought to myself that turning the bull out in mid August should eliminate that problem!)
I phoned Bernice after our bull sale and told her that I had not purchased a bull as all the white bulls sold for more than the $2500 bid she had given me. She was most disappointed as she had her heart set on a white Shorthorn bull. The only other white bull I had on the place was a 4 year old that I have been using on my heifers. This was about the last year I was able to use him, as I am keeping daughters in the herd. I asked Bernice if she would be interested in a 4 year old bull and she said she would take him if he was quiet. We made a deal, in which I was to use him until August, then I was to deliver the bull.
That brings us up to today. I had phoned Bernice and got directions to her farm. Sounded simple enough... come down the highway until you see 4 large steel bins , then 7 miles north. Stop when you see a wooden gate. The directions sounded better than some I have received over the years.
I left very early this morning as it was 340 miles from here. As I got close to where she was supposed to live, I watched for steel bins.... but I didn't see any. Finally, I saw one steel bin, so I turned north.
I was impressed with farm yards that I passed, they were modern, very neat, yards mowed, very affluent looking. A few had swimming pools and some would be considered mansions in some other places. It was obvious that this country had been very good to the people who settled here. The crops were amazing and it was very beautiful, with gently rolling land with the blackest dirt I have ever seen. It was far enough north that there were 80-90 ft Pine trees throughout the fields. After driving 7 miles, I came to a dead end in the road, but there was a very beautiful farm situated there. I had to pull into the yard to turn around. A couple were having their coffee beside a swimming pool and they came over when I pulled in their yard. I told them that I thought I was lost and told them I was looking for Bernice's place. They told me I was close, I was 1 mile to far east. Then the man said, " have you ever been to her place before?" I said no, and related the story complete with turning at the grain bins. He replied that I would be stepping back in time a little when I got to her place. I asked " how much back in time" and he responded " back to the 40s or earlier ". He also told me that the grain bins Bernice had told me about had been moved to another location at least 4 years ago. We had a brief visit and the man asked if he could look at the bull in the trailer. I said sure. He looked in and said that he really liked him and said that Bernice would really look after him well. He also said he would be interested in buying bulls like that if I had some next spring, so I got his mailing address and promised I would send him a sale catalog next spring.( this is the best part of this story! I consider people with swimming pools by their homes in the same category as people who wear alligator shoes, especially when they are interested in buying cattle!!)
Here is where this long story gets really interesting ( or possibly scary) PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO EATING ....
I got to Bernice's place, and it was truly a dump. She was waiting at the wooden gate for me and said that she had been out there for a few hours waiting for me ( which explains why she did not answer her phone when I tried to phone her several times). The first thing I noticed were a bunch of goats.. everywhere. I backed up to a little pen and unloaded the bull.( the pen was probably built in the 40s as well) She said he was the best bull she had ever saw( I like customers like her!). She said " I better give you some more money as he is worth more than you asked for him". I said no, we made a deal, and that is just fine. Then she told me to come to her trailer, and she would pay me for the bull.
The trailer was vintage 1950, or older, and had two small, very ,very old, log buildings added on to it. As we went to enter the door, I was almost bowled over by at least 15 goats that went rushing by, and into the trailer when she opened the door. The stench hit me at that point and I almost went over backwards. Bernice was a tiny, bent over woman who at 76 years old, still moved pretty good.She may have made 4'6 " in her bent over condition. She could hardly open the door to get in, but squeezed in. I, being MUCH bigger had to really heave on the door and I took one step in. I have never witnessed anything like it in my life. The ammonia smell burnt my eyes and nostrils. The manure and urine from the goats and who knows what else, was at least an inch deep on the floor of the trailer.It may have been much deeper... I could not tell! I could see that are some point she had spread some straw on the floor but it was a mucky mess and when I stepped in one step, the urine and manure ozzed up on my shoes past my soles. Bernice asked me if I could fill out the cheque, so I did. She said she had not gone to school as her father did not believe that girls needed education. She told me that she got married at 15 and her husband had taught her to read and sign her name. The cheque I filled out was # 7 and she said that she had only used a few cheques in her lifetime.
I have no idea how anyone could live in the smell and filth. The only appliances were a stove and fridge which were completely rust colored as the ammonia had completely stripped the enamel off them.The one window in the kitchen looked like it was tinted brown, but I knew it was the affects of the ammonia on it. As I wrote the cheque out a goat hopped up on a small table and from there onto the stove and immediately laid down there. Bernice said that she really loved all her animals and the goats slept on her bed with her. A mouse ran across the top of the kitchen table as I wrote the cheque. I am not afraid of mice, but when it ran over my hand I jumped. Bernice chuckled and said, " I did not think it would do that. I play with it when I am having my tea, but I did not think it would come up to a stranger".
I have always prized myself for having cast iron guts, and can only remember throwing up three times in my life, from sickness or self inflicted sickness, but I was very close to heaving a fourth time, by the time I had written the cheque out. There was one picture on the wall, of a very handsome young man in a college graduation gown. She said " that is my son" I asked, " what does he do?" to which she answered " he is a college professor in the states". I then asked " where in the states?" to which she answered" Hartford, Conn. I think that is way down east". I assured her it was quite a ways down east. I asked her if she saw him very often and she said that she had not seen him since her husband died 11 years ago. She told me that he usually calls at Christmas time, and sometimes sends her a little money.
I got back in my truck and left... kinda in total shock. Before I had driven a mile I had to stop. I got out and walked through the wet grass in the ditch trying to get the smell off my shoes. I did this three times within 10 miles. My eyes were still burning and I eventually took my shoes off and threw them in the box of my truck. I had a pair of old boots under my back seat, so I wore them home. 61/2 hours later I arrived home. I could still smell the stench and my nose still felt like it was burning. I took a look at my shoes in the box of the truck and immediately walked over to the burn barrel and tossed them in. The bull I delivered is going to buy me a new pair. On the way home, I took out my address book and phoned the farm where I had got directions from. I told the lady what I had encountered, and she said that they had known it might be bad but the had no idea it was that bad. I asked her if someone should phone the public health authorities and she said that she would do so, first thing Tuesday morning ( Monday is a holiday here in Canada.. well for city people it is anyways!) I told the lady to let me know what happens as I would come and get the bull if the authorities make her leave her place. The lady told me to cash the cheque, as it definitely would be good.
I have now showered and I used lots of soap, but I still can smell the horrid stench. I am beginning to wonder if I might be suffering from some kind of post traumatic stress. I think I will try another shower... and maybe burn my clothes as well. Wow, I hope I can sleep tonight! Sorry for the long story.... I did not know how to make it any shorter. Just wish I could add the smell so you could see for yourself!
Man, I love the cattle business! You just never know what you will encounter!
is all i have to say
